From J&K,PM offers ‘friendly’ hand to Pak

He directly addressed the Kashmiri youth and underscored development. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had,minutes earlier,insisted that “the Kashmir problem can only be resolved by politics and not money”. 

Quoting a poet,Singh said: “There are moments in history when wrong decisions are taken…the effects of which are felt for ages.”

He said he was appealing to the Government of Pakistan “that the hand of friendship that we have extended should be carried forward. This is in the interest of people of India and Pakistan.”

In a clear message of reconciliation,he said: “I strongly believe that the majority of people in Pakistan seek good neighbourly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan. They seek a permanent peace…This is our view as well”.

Referring to his 2004 speech,Singh said he had shown his readiness to discuss all issues with Pakistan. “I did so not because of weakness but from the position of strength and we had the most fruitful and productive discussions ever with Pakistan between 2004 and 2007 when militancy and violence began to decline. Intensive discussions were held on all issues including on a permanent resolution of the issue of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.

“For the first time in 60 years,people were able to travel by road across the LoC.  Divided families were re-united at the border. Trade between the two sides of Kashmir began. In fact,our overall trade with Pakistan increased three times during 2004 and 2007. The number of visas that we issued to Pakistanis doubled during the same period.  An additional rail link was re-established”.

Given the history of the troubled relationship with Pakistan,Singh said,these are not small achievements. “We were moving in the right direction. For the first time there was a feeling among the people that a durable and final peace was around the corner,” he said.

“However,all the progress that we achieved has been repeatedly thwarted by acts of terrorism. The terrorists want permanent enmity to prevail between the two countries”.  “If they (the terrorists) are non-state actors,it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book,to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure,” Singh said. “I call upon the people and Government of Pakistan to show their sincerity and good faith. They will not find us wanting in our response”.

Singh distanced humanitarian issues from the larger question of bilateral relations with Pakistan.

“The cross-LoC initiatives have been well received on both sides of the border. But I am also aware that they are not as people friendly as they could be. Trade facilities at the border are inadequate. There are no banking channels. Customs facilities need to be strengthened. There are no trade fairs. The lists of tradable commodities needs to be increased. Clearances for travel take time. Prisoners of India and Pakistan are languishing in each other’s jails even after completing their sentences,” he said. 

The resolution of these issues requires the cooperation of Pakistan,he said.

Singh,who was accompanied by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad,Farooq Abdullah and Railways Minister Mamta Banerjee,  landed in the paddy fields in Wanpoh adjacent to the Anantnag Railway Station at 11.40 am where he later inaugurated the Anantnag-Qazigund rail thus linking the north Kashmir town of Baramulla with the southern end of the valley through a 118-km track.  

Singh said he was delighted to be back in the Valley in the autumn. “The magnificent Chinar will soon be flaming red,” he said. “I appeal to the youth of Kashmir to join in building a new Kashmir. I understand their frustration. But things are changing”.

Singh said the Centre has committed “unprecedented resources” to the state for comprehensive reconstruction and he did recognize “that the benefits are trickling down slowly.” This needed to change,he said.

Singh reiterated that his government is willing to talk to anyone who has any meaningful ideas to promote peace and development in Kashmir.

“We want to carry all sections of the people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

To set the discourse,Singh referred to his last visit just ahead of the Assembly elections. “I am happy that the people of Jammu & Kashmir turned out to vote in these elections in large numbers. I believe that it was a vote for a peaceful path to a better tomorrow,” he said. “I applaud the wisdom and good faith of the common man of Kashmir.  The common man wants the issue to be resolved through dialogue”.